Relegation doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Here's why Cardiff fans should be adopting a glass half-full approach...

Cardiff City's second game of last season was an unforgettable win over moneybags Manchester City that nearly brought the roof off the Cardiff City Stadium.

This time around it will be a trip to Northampton to play Coventry on a Wednesday night in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

That is the Bluebirds' new reality following relegation from the Premier League.

Rather than glamour trips to footballing theatres like Old Trafford and the Emirates, fans will travel across the country to the likes of Brentford's Griffin Park and Bournemouth's Goldsands Stadium this season.

But following a season of off-field turbulence that took the shine off life in the top flight for many supporters, there is every reason to embrace revisiting many of the lesser lights.

At the end of the day, the slate has been wiped clean.

There are 46 games to go and, by virtue of alphabetical order, Cardiff are already in eighth place and challenging for a play-off place without a ball being kicked.

So in that spirit, we have looked at 16 reasons why the release of the 2014/15 fixtures last month and kick-off against Blackburn next week should be enough to make every Bluebird smile.

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